South Harz Potash Ltd., West Perth/Australia, is pleased to advise that it has been granted the Spatial Planning Assessment for its Ohmgebirge Potash Development, the flagship asset within its 100 %-owned South Harz Potash Project located in central Germany.
The Spatial Planning application for Ohmgebirge was formally submitted to the relevant regulator, Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt (TLVwA), in December 2023. This application incorporated multiple potential brownfield site options for the planned development of the Ohmgebirge potash deposit.
The published decision of the TLVwA confirms the compatibility of all submitted site options with regional planning requirements, while also expressing a preference for one (use of the designated industrial area at Leinefelde).
The Spatial Planning Assessment has been issued with a set of conditions relevant to the next stage of development approval for Ohmgebirge, the Framework Operating Plan License. All these conditions are considered customary and/or readily acceptable by South Harz.
It is also noteworthy that the Spatial Planning Assessment covers a potential Ohmgebirge layout that is almost twice the size of the actual design contained in the recent Ohmgebirge Pre-Feasibility Study. As a result of the targeted future acquisition of the neighbouring Sollstedt mine, the planned surface footprint of Ohmgebirge has been reduced by approximately 50 % compared to the submitted site options under the Spatial Planning Assessment.
Commenting on the Spatial Planning decision, South Harz Executive Chairman, Len Jubber, said: “This is an outstanding outcome from a transparent and well-administered process. The positive Spatial Planning decision provides a strong base for the future development of Ohmgebirge and speaks volumes to the constructiveness of the entire Thuringia region to new critical minerals development. It also validates the world-class environmental and sustainability features that we have incorporated into our Ohmgebirge operational planning, including zero surface waste piling, zero industrial water discharges, low impact mining practises, grid power utilisation (supplied by + 60 % renewable sources) and a low overall surface footprint.”
Regional Director and MD of South Harz subsidiary, Südharz Kali, Babette Winter (Figure 1), commented: “This is an excellent day for new mining development in Germany and for South Harz. The clarity of the Spatial Planning process always provided great comfort and I believe that the TLVwA has balanced the interests of all stakeholders well in arriving at its decision. We are regularly asked whether a new mine in Germany is feasible, and whether the Northern Thuringia region wants one – this decision suggests the clear answer to that question is yes.” (South Harz Potash/Si.)
